Ignorance In The Allegory Of The Cave By Plato
Reality is something that is more of a concept than a factual thing. Reality is subjective, it’s a phenomenon that is perceived. To live in a “fabricated” world, like in “The Allegory of the Cave,” Plato argues that the “real” world is much better than the fabricated world, but that is a flawed thinking because there is no solid foundation to prove that the so-called real world is better than the fabricated world that was created in the cave. Following that, it brings up the argument that the fabricated world is better than the real world. The saying, “Ignorance is bliss” is a line that fits very well into this entire discussion, saying that if you don’t know something you don’t have to worry about it. If anyone looks at things from a universal standpoint, is it really ignorance?
A prime example of how people can become ignorant or show signs of being ignorant is when religion plays a large role in their life. I’m not saying that all human beings that have a certain religion that they believe in is an ignorant swine, but it’s the people who use their religion as a shield from the world that show signs of ignorance. Religion claims to have an answer, and a lot of people even say that they have all the answers because of religion. Religious beliefs are not factual and are driven by a fear of going “astray”. The teachings give a moral standpoint where it shows how to act in a certain situation, or how to live righteous. In Christianity, when someone commits a sin, they do something that is considered wrong, but in their mind, they believe they do right. In other cases, it’s the complete opposite, where people commit what isn’t sin, and believe that that have done wrong. They get their morals tied up, and let their ignorant conscience decide what can be considered sin and what shouldn’t
Humans aren’t perfect, and they will never surmount to the concept of perfection. They possess an Ego, and it leads them to become ignorant to other people’s beliefs and needs if they conflict wither their own. Some despise change, and with the objection to change, the mind tends to reason subjectively, only fighting for what it wants instead of reasoning objectively. Climate change is the biggest example, because if the world would accept the seriousness of that theory, humans would have to make radical changes to daily life. People tend to see radical change as bad, they see it as this dark and mysterious unknow that shouldn’t be messed with. They become blind and chose to ignore the facts that were presented in front of them and continue to keep their comfortable lives, and live worry free. Ignorance keeps us from reaping such good things from change.
To show the ignorant people the truth is a challenging task, it’s even shown in “The Allegory of The Cave” where its stated that “He is compelled to fight in courts of law, or in other places, about the images or the shadows of images of justice, and is endeavoring to meet the conceptions of those who have never yet seen absolute justice”(Plato 589). It describes how hard it is to show the truth to the people who have never actually witnessed it themselves, for the people who have never seen that absolute justice will just turn the other way and think you’re a heretic. “I think that he would rather suffer anything than entertain these false notions and live in this miserable manner” (Plato 588) is what Plato is trying to tell the readers, he wants the people to be enlightened by the world instead of in the dark, even if they suffer in the process. It’s a thinking that he believes strongly, and because of that it’s ignorant. If someone was to look at it through a universal perspective, he’s making his strong belief drive him to say that without putting the consideration of the cave dwellers.
It is better to leave the people in ignorance, because it would be too chaotic and may possibly bring the world a step back from the progress it has already made. The reality I see may be completely different from yours, and that’s okay. If the people are ignorant, let them decide what their reality is because it may be more detrimental than beneficial for everyone in the end. A person can preach about anything for as long as they want to the multitude, but if the audience doesn’t want to accept the words the person is saying, is there really a point in trying? Ignorance is bliss, it’s a line everyone knows, but the rest of the line is knowledge bring pain. Most people would do their best to avoid the pain.
